Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro

The Maracanã Stadium, officially called Estádio Mário Filho, was built to serve as the flagship venue for the 1950 World Cup. It was meant to become the biggest football stadium in the world.

image: Erica Ramalho

Construction began in August 1948 and was completed almost two years later. Maracanã officially opened on 16 June 1950 with a friendly between a selection of players from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

image: Erica Ramalho

Eight days later the stadium hosted the opening match of the 1950 World Cup between Brazil and Mexico (4-0). It would go on to host four more matches in the first round group stage and a further three in the second round stage, among which the deciding final match between Uruguay and Brazil (2-1).

image: Marcelo Santos

The official attendance of the final was about 173,000 paying spectators, but it is estimated that more than 200,000 witnessed the game live from the stands.

This Rio stadium building was officially renamed in 1966 following the death of Brazilian journalist Mário Filho, but most people have kept referring to the stadium as Maracanã.

This football arena hardly changed until the 1990s, when a deathly accident and resulting safety measures greatly reduced capacity. Shortly later it got converted into an all-seater.

When Brazil got awarded the 2014 World Cup in 2007, it was clear that Maracanã was destined to host the final and would therefore need a massive redevelopment.

Building works started in 2010 and involved the complete rebuilding of the bottom tier and the installation of a new roof with a capacity of 79,000 seats as a result. The stadium reopened on 2 June 2013 with a friendly international between Brazil and England (2-2).

Maracanã is scheduled to host a total of seven matches during the 2014 World Cup, including one quarter-final and the final. It also hosted several matches and the final of the 2013 Confederations Cup.

Maracanã is owned by the state of Rio de Janeiro, but has grown to become the regular home of Flamengo and Fluminense. Other Rio clubs such as Botafogo and Vasco da Gama also occasionally use the stadium for high-profile matches.